Kniphofia angustifolia ageing inflorescence

Ageing reveals some features of the Kniphofia angustifolia inflorescence in the photo.

The perianth colouring hasn't changed too much (apart from in the lowermost withered one). The difference between the open florets and the higher up buds is only slight paling or yellowing.

The dark anthers are exserted first once a floret opens, visible here in the upper open perianths. Their filaments have not all elongated to the same level in the flowers where they protrude. Stamens disappear from older perianths where female floral parts become dominant in the fruiting proceedings. Some whitish, thread-like style tips are exserted from older open flowers near the spike base, not from all.

Up top, at the back ends of the perianths, the globose ovaries bulge above the tube constrictions. They indicate where the main action of fruit growth and seed production will start soon, is starting now, or has started already (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).